diff --git a/src/rdb.c b/src/rdb.c
index ab24c642..0fcf426f 100644
--- a/src/rdb.c
+++ b/src/rdb.c
@@ -1066,13 +1066,17 @@ void rdbLoadProgressCallback(rio *r, const void *buf, size_t len) {
         (r->processed_bytes + len)/server.loading_process_events_interval_bytes > r->processed_bytes/server.loading_process_events_interval_bytes)
     {
         if (server.masterhost && server.repl_state == REDIS_REPL_TRANSFER) {
+            static time_t newline_sent;
             /* Avoid the master to detect the slave is timing out while
              * loading the RDB file in initial synchronization. We send
              * a single newline character that is valid protocol but is
              * guaranteed to either be sent entierly or not, since the byte
              * is indivisible. */
-            if (write(server.repl_transfer_s,"\n",1) == -1) {
-                /* Pinging back in this stage is best-effort. */
+            if (time(NULL) != newline_sent) {
+                newline_sent = time(NULL);
+                if (write(server.repl_transfer_s,"\n",1) == -1) {
+                    /* Pinging back in this stage is best-effort. */
+                }
             }
         }
         loadingProgress(r->processed_bytes);